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Sunday, July 29, 2007

Barry Bonds: Where Is He Celebrating HR Record?

As Barry Bonds' inevitable assumption of the home run throne approaches, we wonder:

What will Bonds do to celebrate? Who will Bonds look to to share his joy? Which people will Bonds trust to genuinely share in the unmitigated pride and unabashed glory of his accomplishment?

The entire chase has been surreal. From the moment that Bonds was within a reasonable distance to fear that he would take the crown, the pressure and non-stop media crucifixion began.

Somehow, despite the evidence, admissions and failed tests of others; Bonds has been the poster boy of steroids. Bonds has been the one continually called a cheater. Bonds has been the one that has drawn the ire of every supposed guardian of the game of baseball.

At the same time, dozen of players have failed tests. Jason Giambi has all but confessed to using PED's.

But Bonds takes the brunt of the press corps led malfeasance and takes the verbal assaults launched by the talking heads on TV an Radio.

With all that hatred, it is no wonder that, instead of saying "I'm going to Disney World"...Bonds is saying:

After the record is broken and the spotlight has faded, Bonds revealed where he wants to celebrate — Africa. He complained that he had never taken a vacation because he was always hard at work. But sometime soon, he should have an extended break.It is a wonderful statement and a wholly sad sentiment, at once.

Certainly, Bonds desire to return to the land of the original baseball player is understandable. Returning to the Mother Continent is something all athletes should consider doing after a notable achievement.

But, the sad reality is that his desire to return is probably prompted by the hatred, jealousy and down right ill will with which the white media has covered this glorious chase of immortality.

We believe Africa is the land in which Bonds belongs.

The time has manifested itself.

Take the home run record to the continent on which it belongs.

Hit 756, Barry. Run the bases. Run straight out through the dugout, through the clubhouse to your limo. Head to the airport. And get on a plane.

It's the fitting ending for this chase the media has so viciously tainted.

"(massively talented) Barry Lamar Bonds himself tainted his chase of Hank Aaron by using PEDs. The media simply reports what Bonds gave them.""Check with Mark McGwire, and Raffy Palmeiro about those awful white media guys"

If you had chosen to say something like Bonds used amphetamines...that would be acceptable. He has had a positive. But of course, the use of amphetamines certainly is not something that most people would use to detract from his home run total.

Connecting Bonds to steroids and mentioning Palmeiro is ridiculous.

Palmeiro failed a steroid Test. Bonds has not.

Humility? In what way has Bonds not been humble throughout this inquisition?

Clearly, you have a personal vendetta against Bonds.

Let it go.

Enjoy the tremendous accomplishment and relish the fact that you were fortunate enough to witness it.

It is widely known that side effects of stress include post-pubescent growth of the skull and feet. Your so-called "proof" of illegal drug usage is just the media's own self-fulfilling prophecy: hound the man enough, and he'll show all the symptoms.

Is it not telling that Giambi, Palmeiro, Sosa, Canseco, McGwire, etc. have direct evidence linking them to cheating, while Brother Bonds is reviled? Perhaps Rickey Henderson and Dave Winfield will eventually be blamed.

Sir, while I believe that all of us (and not just black athletes) should make a pilgrimmage to the continent that gave birth to us all, I feel that your advice to Mr. Bonds may be counter-productive to the cause.

Who among us has not heard the hateful entreaty to "go back to Africa" spewed by the ignorant? By leaving immediately for the Dark Continent, would Bonds not be doing their bidding?

He can come celebrate with me at Disney. I'll buy him an Astropop and squeeze him into a guard rail on Space Mountain. Mark McGwire will be there. I'm calling it Burnsy, Mark and Bonds: Three Guys Who Never Juiced.

The evidence against Bonds is mountainous. Anyone who denies it has been living on Mars for about 10 years. In fact Bonds admitted it himself, although he says he didn't know he was using THG, he thought it was flaxseed oil.

Who said Bonds is a drug cheat:His ex, Kimberly Bell says soVictor Conte said so (and appeared in posters with Bonds)The BALCO chemist said soBALCO charts recorded Bonds patterns of drug use.Gary Sheffield said so

Bonds physique changed in ways only consistent with anabolic drug use (and his head did not grow; but his muscles did)

Now lest we believe someone is mixed up, what did Bonds use:

Several anabolic steroids including Ben Johnson's favorite Winstrol

HGH

Clomid (prevents side effects of anabolic roids)

and Insulin

Bonds also used amphetamine

Read the charts as documented in 'Game of Shadows'

The evidence is damning. Bonds is smart; players caught with roids in their urine are the stupid ones. No, Bonds wasn't caught with a positive test, because although banned in MLB since 1991, steroid testing didn't begin until 2003. (HGH and insulin are not tested).

Also note Victor Conte designed his program after the East German doping effort which used lab testing to avoid the official tests. Further, Bonds cycles to avoid the predictable MLB roid tests.

Now, anyone denying Bonds culpability in using PEDs is not to be taken seriously.

"Your defense of a drug cheat detracts from your message of equality for all."

Sir, this blog deals in the realm of facts, not in innuendos. Can you direct me to where Brother Bonds has been convicted of wrong doing? Can you direct me to where Brother Bonds has openly and freely admitted to use of illegal substances while not under duress?

"The evidence against Bonds is mountainous."

Sir, if that is true, where is the incitement? Where is the conviction? In your eyes, Brother Bonds is already guilty because he is black. Where is the outcry for Ralfael Palmeroid?

"His ex, Kimberly Bell says so"

Sir, my bad. Marriages never end bitterly and exs are never out to get each other.

"Victor Conte said so"

Sir, again, can you direct me to where Mr. Conte said this in open public record court where he was subjected to cross examination?

"Gary Sheffield said so"

If Gary Sheffield said Joe Torrie was a racist, would you believe him? Oh, wait...

"Bonds physique changed in ways only consistent with anabolic drug use (and his head did not grow; but his muscles did)"

Sir, I have to ask, are you the same size and shape at 45 while living in your parent's basement as you were when you were 17 living in their basement?

Sir, I hate to keep bringing facts to poke holes in your pinata likelogic, but Mr. Armstrong, like Brother Bonds, does not have a conviction or a viable positive test. Why is Mr. Armstrong loved and Brother Bonds hated?

"Now, anyone denying Bonds culpability in using PEDs is not to be taken seriously."

*sigh*...it is like playing cards with by sister's kids. Sir, again, use facts. Where has this been factually shown to be true?

"Who said Bonds is a drug cheat:His ex, Kimberly Bell says soVictor Conte said so (and appeared in posters with Bonds)The BALCO chemist said soBALCO charts recorded Bonds patterns of drug use.Gary Sheffield said so"

Sir, all credible. Each and everyone completely credible and believeable.

His mistress trying to make a buck.

Two convicted felons who may have mitigated their punishments.

And Sheffield. Everytime he opens his mouth and says something that people like YOU don't like...you complain about him.

The one time he says something you DO like, well....he is wonderful and should be taken serious.

We also deal in the notion that our legal system grants individuals the right to due process. And the concept that the responsibility of designating guilty rests on the prosecution. As such, we fully support the time honored legal principle of innocent until PROVEN guilty. With the burden of proof on the PROSECUTION in the court of LAW.

You read that, right?

We didn't say the burden of proof being things purported in the media and tried on the internet.

We find it incredibly amusing (and thoroughly hypocritical) that someone like Vance would bring up morality or values...in his degrading those that would support SUSPECTED or ACCUSED dopers as being worse than a racist.

How insidious that he would convict an individual in the court of public opinion, based on information which he has received second, third and fourth hand from a media with an agenda.

Wouldn't the prudent, moral, fair and right thinking individual wait for the judicial process to run its course before so quickly jumping to conclusions?

Wouldn't an intelligent person support a fellow citizen's(regardless of the fact that citizen is a Negro)civil rights?

What people like Vance don't understand, or simply don't care about, is that by supporting the denial of civil rights to Bonds...by approving the rejection of the notion of innocent until PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW...that they are eroding their OWN rights?

Certainly, if Mr. Vance were ever accused of something, he would be pounding on the table for his due process. He would be screaming "I am a white man....I am innocent until someone proves other wise!!"...

But, place a Negro with a glorious home run swing in front of Vance...and he'd happily burn the constitution without even hearing the case.

Sir, I post a statement proclaimed by Nathan on his as of yet unpaid 'blog' (the world blog is in quotes because if Nathan writes and no one reads it, can it be considered a blog?):

"It’s a racist world. Minorities, for the most part, are still painted in a negative light by the media. This is why missing white girls get more press than missing black girls. It sucks but it’s true. Nevertheless, I still hate Barry Bonds. And I’m pretty sure I would hate him even if he was white."

What is interesting is that Nathan freely admits that it is a racist world, but then perpetuates the racism. Notice how he says that he is only "pretty sure" that he would hate Brother Bonds if he were white, but since he is black, he definitely hates Brother Bonds. Interesting, sir. And by interesting, I mean 'racist'.

Awww, Martin, thanks for noticing. By the by, PIC pays me for my work (that's an old header but I like it so I kept it) and the "pretty sure" was meant as sarcasm. Call me a racist if you want; it's not true. But I don't really care what y'all think because, well, you don't.

saw this on your "blog""Anyway, the fact of the matter is that I don’t like Barry Bonds. For jokingly typing that I was “pretty sure” I would hate him if he was white, I have been called a racist (to be fair, I knew some of the fine folks at NOIS were reading me and I baited them with the line—and yes, this passes as fun for me. I promise I’ll get a life again when the heat abides)."